Swimming and Diving Take An Early LeadBoth the men's and women's teams are leading in scores after one day of competition against the Wisconsin Badgers

Kiera Janzen is off to a strong start after winning multiple events against the Badgers

Oct. 18, 2013

With day one of dual meet competition in the books, the University of Minnesota swimming and diving teams are off to a very strong start. On the road at border-rival school University of Wisconsin, the Golden Gopher men’s and women’s teams are ahead in team scoring.

The men’s team leads the Badgers 183-103 after a day’s worth of action, while the women’s team is also leading the dual over Wisconsin 101-83.

Minnesota women began the evening strong right out of the gate in the first event when they took home a first-place finish in the 200 freestyle relay. Members consisting of Lauren Votava, Becca Weiland, Erin Caflisch, and Blake Zeiger all combined to earn a score of 1:32.22.

Kiera Janzen followed suit in the next event when she won the 500 freestyle. Having received a first-place finish in the event last weekend against the University of Michigan, Janzen continued her momentum to swim a time of 4:54.44. Later in the meet, Janzen also went on to earn first place in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:50.09 and lastly in the 800 freestyle relay. A team made up of Madeline Hoch, Lauren Votaca, Tori Simenec, and Janzen combined for a time of 7:22.76 to win the last women’s event of the evening.

Other stand out swimmers of the night consisted of Kierra Smith who placed first in the 200 breaststoke with a time of 2:17.61 and Tori Simenec who individually placed high in the 200 I.M. (2:03.50) and in the 200 butterfly (2:04.32).

Senior Luke Bushman pulled through a win for Minnesota in the 200 I.M. when he swam a 1:52.02 to seal first place. In the 12th event of the night Nick Orf earned himself a win in the 200 butterfly with a time of 1:50.75.

The border battle continues tomorrow morning at 11:00 a.m. CT. The order of events for day two are as follows: